Why Breaking Bad is Television's Magnum Opus (Video Essay)

A new chapter is knocking, and it all starts with my favorite show of all time. Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime after he is diagnosed with lung cancer. Joining him in his meth-making endeavors is former student Jesse Pinkman. Together, the pair run afoul of New Mexico’s most dangerous gangsters, including the murderous Salamanca cartel family and the criminal mastermind Gustavo Fring. ©The Cognitive Script SOCIAL MEDIA: Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/thecognitivescript.bsky.social Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecognitivescript/ Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/joeloquacious/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssef-hassanein25/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thecognitivescript CLIPS USED: Breaking Bad El Camino SpongeBob MUSIC USED: The Yellow Prince - Dont Leave Me, Murph Cooper Cannell - Bach Cello Suit No. 1 Scott Buckley - Filaments Scott Buckley - Undertow Scott Buckley - Jul Scott Buckley - Among Inquisitive Stars Keys of Moon - Lonesome Journey Keys of Moon - Illusions Jonny Easton Warming Light Aylex - Urano Tushar Sharma - Distant Memories Negro y Azul (Piano Version) Jorge Mendez - Changes Rights Free Sound - Sad Cinematic Music Oak Studios - Angels Oak Studios - Yours Willow - MokkaMusic INSPIRATIONS: Breaking Bad: Full Series Retrospective | Slip Maker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7-0CR2-jsM&t=2191s&ab_channel=SlipMaker Analyzing Evil: Walter White From Breaking Bad | The Vile Eye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIjfojS354s&ab_channel=TheVileEye How Breaking Bad Changed My Life | Karsten Runquist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2x9TA3KhFc&ab_channel=KarstenRunquist Breaking Bad - The Value of Human Life | Just an Observation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V87lK_sUDDY&ab_channel=JustanObservation Breaking Bad: How Walter White Evolves | Just an Observation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAjrFu7doNg&t=13s&ab_channel=JustanObservation Breaking Bad - The Great Tragedy of Jesse Pinkman | Alex Meyers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt0-avGfah0&ab_channel=AlexMeyers Why Breaking Bad's "Fly" Is IRREPLACEABLE | Aleczandxr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCKmjyYokrg&t=1s&ab_channel=Aleczandxr The Hidden Origin of Heisenberg | Aleczandxr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-H_U4-bnTw&lc=Ugz0N8RQCf7L41nWrrN4AaABAg&ab_channel=Aleczandxr Breaking Bad: An Episode of Reactions | Nerdwriter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZllwNlyTfLs&t=1s&ab_channel=Nerdwriter1 © Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended. 0:00 - 3:04 Introduction 3:05 - Part 1 - The Study of Change 11:37 - Part 2 - A Trip to Belize 15:13 - Part 3 - Yeah, Science! 19:04 - Part 4 - The Danger 33:22 - Part 5 - Wanna Cook? 38:47 - Epilogue 39:41 - Credits :) #breakingbad #walterwhite #thecognitivescript #videoessay